奈良県·郷土料理
Asuka Nabe (Nara City)
The steam rising from the pot feels slightly different than usual. It is a white soup created by combining dashi with milk. As you dip chicken and vegetables into it and take a sip, you encounter a mellow, rich, and gentle bowl—this is Asuka Nabe, the milk hot pot of Asuka Village, Nara. It is said that during the Asuka period, dairy products were introduced from Tang Dynasty China, leading to the raising of dairy cows in the imperial court. Eventually, it is believed that monks began cooking chicken in milk as the origin of this dish. The dish took its current form in the early Showa era. It is said to have been devised as a specialty of Asuka using local milk. Even for those who are not fond of milk, the combination with dashi makes it surprisingly easy to drink. The food culture of ancient times still lives on within this hot pot.
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